Sensor and fragmentizable glass means for releasing a penetrator

ABSTRACT

A sensor and trigger mechanism includes a ball of predetermined weight held against a pedestal-type seat by an adjustable screw. A sealed pressure vessel is biased axially toward a hollow penetrator pin and normally located in spaced relationship to the penetrator pin by a hollow frangible glass cylinder having a compressively stressed continuous outer surface skin or layer. A fragmentor pin is movably positioned to engage an outer edge of the glass cylinder to fragmentize the glass cylinder into segments and permit the seal of the vessel to be ruptured or penetrated by the penetrator pin so that the supply of pressure fluid within the cylinder can escape through the penetrator pin and into a manifold to inflate a restraint cushion. A spring member includes a first arm for engaging the fragmentor pin and a second arm which includes an integral detent portion for holding the first arm out of engagement with the fragmentor pin. The detent portion of the second arm is held in engagement with the first arm when the ball is seated. Upon application of a predetermined rate of acceleration change to the ball over a predetermined time duration, the ball slides off the seat and from underneath the adjustable screw to release the second arm and in turn release the first arm to engage the fragmentor pin and drive the pin into engagement with an outer edge of the cylinder to fragmentize the cylinder.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Philip B. Zeigler Pittsford; JamesC. St. Amand, Spencerport; Ernst L. Ranft, Webster, all of N.Y. [21]Appl. No. 882,668 [22] Filed Dec. 5, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 19, 1971[73] Assignee General Motors Corporation Detroit, Mich.

[54] SENSOR AND FRAGMENTIZABLE GLASS MEANS FOR RELEASING A PENETRATOR 9Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 222/5 [51] Int. Cl B67b 7/24 [50] Field of Search 222/5;141/19, 329, 330; 9/320, 119

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,079,047 2/1963 Chiodini eta]. 222/5 X 3,490,649 l/1970 Sheridan 222/5 Primary ExaminerStanley H.Tollberg Att0rneysW. E. Finken and Herbert Furman ABSTRACT: A sensor andtrigger mechanism includes a ball of predetermined weight held against apedestaltype seat by an adjustable screw. A sealed pressure vessel isbiased axially toward a hollow penetrator pin and normally located inspaced relationship to the penetrator pin by a hollow frangible glasscylinder having a compressively stressed continuous outer surface skinor layer. A fragmentor pin is movably positioned to engage an outer edgeof the glass cylinder to fragmentize the glass cylinder into segmentsand permit the seal of the vessel to be ruptured or penetrated by thepenetrator pin so that the supply of pressure fluid within the cylindercan escape through the penetrator pin and into a manifold to inflate arestraint cushion. A spring member includes a first arm for engaging thefragmentor pin and a second arm which includes an integral detentportion for holding the first arm out of engagement with the fragmentorpin. The detent portion of the second arm is held in engagement with thefirst arm when the ball is seated. Upon application of a predetenninedrate of acceleration change to the ball over a predetermined timeduration, the ball slides off the seat and from underneath theadjustable screw to release the second arm and in turn release the firstarm to engage the fragmentor pin and drive the pin into engagement withan outer edge of the cylinder to fragmentize the cylinder.

SENSOR AND FRAGMENTIZABLE GLASS MEANS FOR RELEASING A PENETRATOR Thisinvention relates generally to sensor and trigger mechanisms and moreparticularly to such mechanisms which sense a rate of accelerationchange for a predetermined period of time and actuate a trigger torelease a quantity of pressure fluid from a storage vessel.

The mechanism of this invention is particularly intended for use withinflatable restraint systems of the general type which include a sealedstorage vessel of pressure fluid and a manifold connecting the vessel toa cushion which is inflated by the fluid when a certain rate ofacceleration change is attained for a certain period of time. Generallythe pressure vessel includes a rupturable or penetratable seal whichmust be broken in order for the pressure fluid to escape and inflate thecushion.

The sensor of this mechanism includes a ball of predetermined weightwhich is held against a pedestal-type seat with a predetermined force.When the rate of acceleration change reaches a predetermined minimum fora predetermined period of time, the ball is unseated.

The trigger includes a hollow cylindrical glass member which seatsbetween movable and fixed members, one of which is a penetrator and theother of which is the sealed pressure vessel. The glass cylinder has acompressively stressed skin or layer which is engageable by a fragmentorpin or other sharp pointed member to fragmentize the entire glass memberinto very small fragments which are not sharp edged. Very little forceis required on the pin in order to have the pin engage the stressedlayer with sufficient force to fragmentize the glass member. Forces inthe order of 8 inch-ounces can be sufficient.

A spring member is used to engage the fragmentor pin and this springmember is normally held out of engagement with the fragmentor pin by adetent or blocking arrangement, the position of which is controlled bythe seating and unseating of the ball.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improvedself-actuated and controlled sensor and trigger mechanism for releasinga supply of pressure fluid to inflate a restraint cushion when apredetermined rate of acceleration change for a predetermined durationof time is attained.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sensor and triggermechanism for releasing a supply of pressure fluid from a sealedpressure vessel to inflate a restraint cushion wherein the triggerincludes a hollow frangible glass cylinder having a compressivelystressed skin or layer and separating movable and fixed members, onemember including the pressure vessel having a penetratable seal and theother member including a seal penetrator. A further object of thisinvention is to provide a sensor and trigger mechanism for releasing asupply of pressure fluid from a sealed pressure vessel to inflate arestraint cushion wherein the seating and unseating of a ball withrespect to a pedestal-type seat provides a sensor controlling a triggerwhich includes a fragmentor pin engageable under spring force with acompressively stressed skin or layer of a frangible glass cylinderseparating movable and fixed members, one member including the pressurevessel having a penetratable seal sealing the cavity thereof and theother member including a penetrator for penetrating or rupturing theseal to release the pressure fluid and inflate the cushion.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a sensor and triggermechanism for releasing a supply of pressure fluid from a sealedpressure vessel to inflate a restraint cushion wherein the seal of thepressure vessel and a penetrator pin for rupturing the seal areseparated by a hollow frangible glass cylinder having an outercompressively stressed skin or layer which is adapted to be engaged andpenetrated by a fragmentor pin to provide a trigger which is controlledby a sensor which senses a rate of acceleration change for apredetermined period of time. Yet a further object of this invention isto provide a sensor and trigger mechanism for releasing a supply ofpressure fluid from a sealed pressure vessel to inflate a restraintcushion wherein the trigger includes a penetrator normally held out ofengagement with a penetratable seal of the pressure vessel by a hollowfrangible glass cylinder having a compressively stressed outer skin orlayer which is engageable by a movable fragmentor pin upon theapplication of a predetermined spring force thereto in order tofragmentize the glass cylinder and permit the seal and penetrator tointerengage and inflate the cushion, with the application of the springforce being controlled by a sensor sensing a rate of acceleration changefor a predetermined period of time.

These and other objects of this invention will be readily ap parent fromthe following specification and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view partially in section of a sensor and trigger mechanismaccording to this invention, with'the mechanism being shown in itsnormal position; and

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the mechanism in its actuatedposition wherein the pressure fluid has been released.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a housing designated generally10 includes an annular walled chamber 12 defined by an annular base wall14 and an annular sidewall 16. The opening defined by the wall 16 isclosed by a cap 18 suitably secured to the upper edge of the wall 16.

The sensor mechanism includes a pedestal-type annular seat 20 fixedlysecured to the wall 14 at approximately the center thereof. The seat 20includes a spherical depression 22 which engages and seats a portion ofthe outer surface of a ball 24. A flat-headed screw 26 is threadedwithin a threaded embossment 28 of cap 18 and is engageable with ball 24diametrically opposite the center of seat 20 to hold the ball within thedepression with a predetermined force. The screw 26 is adjustableexternally of the cap 18 by a conventional screwdriver to vary the forcethereof on the ball.

In the specific embodiment shown, the ball has a %-inch OD and weighsapproximately 16 grams. The depression 22 has an OD of approximatelyone-fourth inch. The ball size and weight and the size and shape of thedepression 22 are, of course, variable factors depending on theconditions under which the ball 24 is intended to move off the seat 20,as will be hereinafter discussed.

Another chamber 30 is formed integrally with chamber 10 and is definedby annular wall 14, spaced generally flat sidewalls 32, a lower wall 34,an annular wall 36 and a stepped end wall 38. The trigger mechanismincludes an integral leaf spring designated 40 having angularly arrangedarms 42 and 44 which follow the stepped contour of the wall 38. Anarcuate juncture portion 45 is seated or fulcrumed on a likeshapedgroove in the wall 34 and joins the arm 44 with a free arm 46 having aterminal portion 48. An arcuate juncture portion 50 fits within alike-shaped groove in the wall 38 and joins arm 42 with a free arm 52which includes a return bent detention holding portion 54 and a terminalportion 56. The wall 14 and seat 20 are slotted at 58 to provide forpassage of the arm 52 and portion 54 therethrough and the depression 22is slotted so that the terminal portion 56 can seat underneath the ball24 immediately adjacent the surface of the depression. The freepositions of the arms 46 and 52 are respectively counterclockwise andclockwise of their positions shown in FIG. 2 so that these arms arealways biased oppositely of each other about the juncture portions 45and 50 respectively. The arms 42 and 44 are biased toward each other togrip the wall 38 when spring 40 is installed in chamber 30.

When the ball 24 is in its position shown in FIG. I, it will be notedthat the portion 54 of arm 52 engages the terminal portion 48 of arm 46to act as a detent or holding means holding the arm 46 in its positionas shown. When the arm 46 is in this position, it contains a storedspring energy or force. In the specific embodiment shown, this force is8 inch-ounces.

The annular wall 36 defines an annular chamber which receives thethreaded end of a sealed pressure vessel or cylinder 60 therewithin. Afrustoconical mounting member 62 includes an annular threaded portion 64into which the threaded end of cylinder 60 is inserted and an annularflange 66 which is generally located in opposed spaced relationship toan annular flange 68 defined by the wall 36. An annular member 70surrounds the cylinder 60 and includes a stepped flange 72 which fitsover the free edge of the wall 36 and is crimped over spaced lugs 74 ofthis wall at various spaced locations to thereby secure the member 70 tothe housing 10. A coil compression spring 76 seats between the flange 66of member 62 and a return bent flange 78 of the member 70 to continuallybias the cylinder 60 and the mounting member 62 upwardly as viewed inFIGS. 1 and 2.

A hollow glass cylinder 80 seats between the flange 66 and the flange 68to normally locate the cylinder 60 and the mounting member 62 againstthe action of the spring 76. The cylinder 80 is made of chemicallytreated glass which is commercially available under the name ofChem-cor. Such glass has a compressive stress placed in its outer layeras a result of chemical treatment. In the specific embodiment shown, thecylinder has a l-inch OD and is one-half inch in axial length. Thethickness of the cylinder is 0.080 in. and the stress layer is 0.017 in.thick on the outer surface, the inner surface, and the end surface. Thestress layer is somewhat thicker at the inner and outer edges at theends of the cylinder. Flange 68 is provided with a discontinuous rib 82which engages the outer surface of cylinder 80 adjacent the outer upperedge thereof to locate the cylinder with respect to flange 68.

The annular wall 36 merges into an apertured annular base wall 83 and ahollow penetrator pin 84 is mounted within the aperture in the wall 83.The penetrator pin 84 opens to an annular chamber defined by the wall 36and also to an annular passage or manifold 86 defined by the wall 83 andby an annular wall 88 of the housing. The manifold 86 opens to theinterior of a suitable conduit 90 which is conventionally secured to theannular wall 88 and connects the manifold 86 with a conventionalinflatable restraint cushion, not shown, which may be mounted at variousconventional locations within a vehicle body.

Wall 36 is provided with an integral thickened rib which is grooved at92 and interrupts flange 68 and rib 82. The base wall defining thisgroove is apertured at 94. A headed fragmentor pin 96 is slidablymounted within the aperture 94 and a resilient washer suitably securedto the rib of wall 36 opposite the base wall of groove 92 resilientlygrips the shank of the pin to normally locate the pin, as shown in FIG.1, with the headed end thereof located within the chamber 30 and thesharp pointed end thereof located within the groove 92 in a position toengage the outer upper edge of the cylinder 80.

As shown in FIG. 1, the housing may be provided with various localflanges 98 so as to be mounted on a panel or wall 100 of a vehicle body.Preferably the body panel 100 is either a panel of the toe pan,firewall, or floor pan so as to receive shock waves transmitted throughthe body structure in the event of an impact between the vehicle andanother object.

The ball 24 remains seated in depression 22 of seat 20 under the forceof screw 26 during normal operation of the vehicle, despite the vehicletraveling over rough or uneven roads. The screw 26 is adjusted to holdthe ball 24 in the depression 22 until the inertial load on the ballexceeds a predetermined minimum such as 10 G, for a predetermined periodof time such as 8 to 10 milliseconds.

Should the vehicle impact with another object with sufficient force sothat a shock wave of a certain magnitude for a certain duration of timeis transferred through the body to the panel 100, the ball 24 slides outof the depression 22 and from underneath the head of screw 26 and movesoff the seat 20 to its position shown in FIG. 2. In this position, theball no longer constrains the spring arm 52 so that this am movesslightly clockwise. The detent portion 54 of the arm 52 moves out ofengagement with the terminal portion 48 of spring arm 46. Arm 46 thenmoves from its position of FIG. I to its position of FIG. 2 and portion48 engages the head of the fragmentor pin 96 and moves the sharp pointedend of the pin into engagement with the outer upper edge of the glasscylinder 80. When the fragmentor pin engages the glass cylinder, theglass cylinder fragmentizes or breaks down into fragments, as

shown in FIG. 2, and these fragments are generally spherical in nature.

As the glass cylinder fragmentizes, the spring 76 drives the cylinder 60and the mounting member 62 upwardly from their position shown in FIG. 1to their position shown in FIG. 2. In this position, the penetrator pin84 has penetrated the rupturable or penetratable seal 102 of thecylinder 60 so that the pressure fluid, either air, nitrogen, or C0,,contained within the cylinder 60 can flow through the penetrator pin andinto the manifold 86 to inflate the cushion, not shown.

Although this embodiment of the invention shows the penetrator pin 84 asbeing fixed and the pressure vessel 60 as being movable, it is believedobvious that the pressure vessel could remain stationary and thepenetrator pin be movable. Likewise, although the fragmentor pin 96 isshown as engaging an outer edge of the glass cylinder 80, this pin couldlikewise engage an inner edge, the outer surface of the glass cylinder,or the inner surface. It is preferable in some respects for the pin toengage a surface rather than an edge due to ease of access and also dueto the fact that less force is required to fragmentize the cylinder whena surface is engaged since the compressively stressed layer is thickerat the edges as previously mentioned.

Thus, this invention provides an improved sensor and trigger mechanism.

We claim:

1. The combination comprising, a support, a vessel member containingpressure fluid and having a penetratable seal, a penetrating member forpenetrating the seal to release the pressure fluid, means fixedlymounting one of the members on the support, means movably mounting theother member on the support, means biasing the movable member relativeto the fixed member in a direction moving the penetrating member andvessel member seal into penetrating engagement with each other, agenerally hollow annular frangible glass member seated between thesupport and the movable member to hold the movable member againstmovement, the glass member having an annular compressively stressedlayer, fragmentor means movably mounted on the support for engaging thecompressively stressed layer of the glass member to fragmentize theglass member and permit the biasing means to move the penetrating memberand vessel member seal into penetrating engagement and release thepressure fluid, stored energy means engageable with the fragmentor meansto move the fragmentor means into engagement with the stressed layer ofthe glass member, releasable means normally blocking engagement of thestored energy means with the fragmentor means, and means for sensing arate of acceleration change for a predetermined period of time forreleasing the blocking means to permit the stored energy means to engagethe fragmentor means.

2. The combination comprising, a support, a vessel member containingpressure fluid and having a penetratable seal, a penetrating member forpenetrating the seal to release the pressure fluid, means fixedlymounting one of the members on the support, means movably mounting theother member on the support, means biasing the movable member relativeto the fixed member in a direction moving the penetrating member andvessel member seal into penetrating engagement with each other, agenerally hollow annular frangible glass member seated between thesupport and the movable member to hold the movable member againstmovement, the glass member having an annular compressively stressedlayer, fragmentor means movably mounted on the support for engaging thecompressively stressed layer of the glass member to fragmentize theglass member and permit the baising means to move the penetrating memberand vessel member seal into penetrating engagement and release thepressure fluid, spring lever means fulcrumed on the support and movableto a stored energy position, releasable means holding the spring levermeans in stored energy position, and means for sensing a rate ofacceleration change for a predetermined period of time for releasing thereleasable means to permit the spring lever means to move from storedenergy position and into engagement with the fragmentor means to movethe fragmentor means into engagement with the stressed layer of theglass member.

3. The combination comprising, a support, a vessel member containingpressure fluid and having a penetratable seal, a penetrating member forpenetrating the seal to release the pressure fluid, means fixedlymounting one of the members on the support, means movably mounting theother member on the support, means biasing the movable member relativeto the fixed member in a direction moving the penetrating member andvessel member seal into penetrating engagement with each other; agenerally hollow cylindrical frangible glass member telescoped on themovable member and seated between the movable member and the support tohold the movable member and the fixed member against movement relativeto each other, the glass member having a compressively stressed outerlayer, a fragmentor pin movably mounted on the support for engaging thecompressively stressed layer of the glass member to fragmentize theglass member and permit the biasing means to move the penetrating memberand vessel member seal into penetrating engagement and release thepressure fluid, stored energy means engageable with the fragmentor pinto move the fragmentor pin into engagement with the glass member,releasable means blocking engagement of the stored energy means with thefragmentor pin, and means for sensing a rate of acceleration change fora predetermined period of time for releasing the blocking means topermit the stored energy means to engage the fragmentor pin.

4. The combination comprising, a support, an annular vessel membercontaining pressure fluid and having a penetratable seal, an annularpenetrating member for penetrating the seal to release the pressurefluid, means fixedly mounting one of the members on the support, meansmovably mounting the other member on the support, means biasing themovable member relative to the fixed member in a direction moving thepenetrating member and vessel member seal into penetrating engagementwith each other, an annular seat on the movable member surrounding anannular portion thereof, a generally hollow annular frangible glassmember telescoped over the annular portion of the movable member andseated between the annular seat and the support to hold the movablemember and the fixed member against movement relative to each other, theglass member having an annular compressively stressed layer, afragmentor pin movably mounted on the support for engaging thecompressively stressed layer of the glass member to fragmentize theglass member and permit the biasing means to move the penetrating memberand vessel member seal into penetrating engagement and release thepressure fluid, stored energy means engageable with the fragmentor pinto move the fragmentor pin into engagement with the glass member,releasable means blocking engagement of the stored energy means with thefragmentor pin, and means for sensing a rate of acceleration change fora predetermined period of time for releasing the blocking means topermit the stored energy means to engage the fragmentor pin.

5. The combination comprising, a support, a vessel member containingpressure fluid and having a penetratable seal, a penetrating member forpenetrating the seal to release the pressure fluid, means fixedlymounting one of the members on the support, means movably mounting theother member on the support, means biasing the movable member relativeto the fixed member in a direction moving the penetrating member andvessel member seal into penetrating engagement with each other, agenerally hollow annular frangible glass member seated between thesupport and the movable member to hold the movable member againstmovement, the glass member having an annular compressively stressedlayer, fragmentor means movably mounted on the support for engaging thecompressively stressed layer of the glass member to fragmentize theglass member and permit the biasing means to move the penetrating memberand vessel member seal into penetrating engagement and release thepressure fluid, stored energy means engageable with the fragmentor meansto move the fragmentor means into engagement with the stressed layer ofthe glass member, a generally frustoconically shaped pedestal on thesupport having a ball seat formed thereon, a ball of predeterminedweight seated on said seat, means holding the ball against the seat witha predetermined force sufficient to require a rate of accelerationchange for a predetermined period of time to unseat the ball from thepedestal, and means controlled by unseating of the ball for releasingthe stored energy means to engage the fragmentor means.

6. The combination comprising, a support, a vessel member containingpressure fluid and having a penetratable seal, a penetrating member forpenetrating the seal to release the pressure fluid, means fixedlymounting one of the members on the support, means movably mounting theother member on the support, means biasing the movable member relativeto the fixed member in a direction moving the penetrating member andvessel member seal into penetrating engagement with each other, agenerally hollow annular frangible glass member seated between thesupport and the movable member to hold the movable member againstmovement, the glass member having an annular compressively stressedlayer, fragmentor means movably mounted on the support for engaging thecompressively stressed layer of the glass member to fragmentize theglass member and permit the biasing means to move the penetrating memberand vessel member seal into penetrating engagement and release thepressure fluid, stored energy means engageable with the fragmentor meansto move the fragmentor means into engagement with the stressed layer ofthe glass member, a generally frustoconically shaped pedestal on thesupport having a ball seat formed thereon, a ball of predeterminedweight seated on said seat, means holding the ball against the seat witha predetermined force sufficient to require a rate of accelerationchange for a predetermined period of time to unseat the ball from thepedestal, detent means movable between detented and undetented positionswith respect to the stored energy means, and means controlled byunseating of the ball for moving the detent means to undetented positionto permit the stored energy means to engage the fragmentor pin.

7. The combination comprising, a support, a vessel member containingpressure fluid and having a penetratable seal, a penetrating member forpenetrating the seal to release the pressure fluid, means fixedlymounting one of the members on the support, means movably mounting theother member on the support, means biasing the movable member relativeto the fixed member in a direction moving the penetrating member andvessel member seal into penetrating engagement with each other, agenerally hollow annular frangible glass member seated between thesupport and the movable member to hold the movable member againstmovement, the glass member having an annular compressively stressedlayer, fragmentor means movably mounted on the support for engaging thecompressively stressed layer of the glass member to fragmentize theglass member and permit the biasing means to move the penetrating memberand vessel member seal into penetrating engagement and release thepressure fluid, stored energy means engageable with the fragmentor meansto move the fragmentor means into engagement with the stressed layer ofthe glass member, a generally frustoconically shaped pedestal on thesupport having a ball seat formed thereon, a ball of predeterminedweight seated on said seat, means holding the ball against the seat witha predetermined force sufficient to require a rate of accelerationchange for a predetermined period of time to unseat the ball from thepedestal, detent means movable between detented and undetented positionswith respect to the stored energy means, means biasing the detent meansto undetented position, and means controlled by unseating of the ballfor permitting the biasing means to move the detent means to undetentedposition to permit the stored energy means to engage the fragmentor pin.

8. The combination comprising, a support, a vessel member containingpressure fluid and having a penetratable seal, a

penetrating member for penetrating the seal to release the pressurefluid, means fixedly mounting one of the members on the support, meansmovably mounting the other member on the support, means biasing themovable member relative to the fixed member in a direction moving thepenetrating member and vessel member seal into penetrating engagementwith each other, a generally hollow annular frangible glass memberseated between the support and the movable member to hold the movablemember against movement, the glass member having an annularcompressively stressed layer, fragmentor means movably mounted on thesupport for engaging the compressively stressed layer of the glassmember to fragmentize the glass member and permit the biasing means tomove the penetrating member and vessel member seal into penetratingengagement and release the pressure fluid, stored energy meansengageable with the fragmentor means to move the fragmentor means intoengagement with the stressed layer of the glass member, a generallyfrustoconically shaped pedestal on the support having a ball seat formedthereon, a ball of predetermined weight seated on said seat, meansholding the ball against the seat with a predetermined force sufficientto require a rate of acceleration change for a predetermined period oftime to unseat the ball from the pedestal, detent means movable betweendetented and undetented positions with respect to the stored energymeans, means on the detent means engageable with the stored energy meansand with the ball when the ball is seated to maintain the stored energymeans out of engagement with the fragmentor pin, unseating of the ballpermitting the detent means to release the stored energy means andpermit the stored energy means to engage the fragmentor pin.

9. The combination comprising, a support, a vessel member containingpressure fluid and having a penetratable seal, a penetrating member forpenetrating the seal to release the pressure fluid, means fixedlymounting one of the members on the support, means movably mounting theother member on the support, means biasing the movable member relativeto the fixed member in a direction moving the penetrating member andvessel member seal into penetrating engagement with each other, agenerally hollow annular frangible glass member seated between thesupport and the movable member to hold the movable member and the fixedmember against movement relative to each other, the glass member havingan annular compressively stressed layer, a fragmentor pin movablymounted on the support for engaging the compressively stressed layer ofthe glass member to fragmentize the glass member and permit the biasingmeans to move the penetrating member and vessel member seal intopenetrating engagement and release the pressure fluid, a spring membermounted on the support and including a first arm engageable with thefragmentor pin and a second arm engageable with the first arm to holdthe first arm against movement, a generally frustoconically shapedpedestal on the support having a ball seat formed thereon, a ball ofpredetermined weight seated on said seat, means holding the ball againstthe seat with a predetermined force sufficient to require a rate ofacceleration change for a predetermined period of time to unseat theball from the pedestal, means on the second arm engageable with the ballwhen the ball is seated to maintain the second arm in engagement withthe first arm, unseating of the ball permitting the second arm to moveout of engagement with the first arm to permit the first arm to engagethe fragmentor pin.

1. The combination comprising, a support, a vessel member containingpressure fluid and having a penetratable seal, a penetrating member forpenetrating the seal to release the pressure fluid, means fixedlymounting one of the members on the support, means movably mounting theother member on the support, means biasing the movable member relativeto the fixed member in a direction moving the penetrating member andvessel member seal into penetrating engagement with each other, agenerally hollow annular frangible glass member seated between thesupport and the movable member to hold the movable member againstmovement, the glass member having an annular compressively stressedlayer, fragmentor means movably mounted on the support for engaging thecompressively stressed layer of the glass member to fragmentize theglass member and permit the biasing means to move the penetrating memberand vessel member seal into penetrating engagement and release thepressure fluid, stored energy means engageable with the fragmentor meansto move the fragmentor means into engagement with the stressed layer ofthe glass member, releasable means normally blocking engagement of thestored energy means with the fragmentor means, and means for sensing arate of acceleration change for a predetermined period of time forreleasing the blocking means to permit the stored energy means to engagethe fragmentor means.
 2. The combination comprising, a support, a vesselmember containing pressure fluid and having a penetratable seal, apenetrating member for penetrating the seal to release the pressurefluid, means fixedly mounting one of the members on the support, meansmovably mounting the other member on the support, means biasing themovable member relative to the fixed member in a direction moving thepenetrating member and vessel member seal into penetrating engagementwith each other, a generally hollow annular frangible glass memberseated between the support and the movable member to hold the movablemember against movement, the glass member having an annularcompressively stressed layer, fragmentor means movably mounted on thesupport for engaging the compressively stressed layer of the glassmember to fragmentize the glass member and permit the baising means tomove the penetrating member and vessel member seal into penetratingengagement and release the pressure fluid, spring lever means fulcrumedon the support and movable to a stored energy position, releasable meansholding the spring lever means in stored energy position, and means forsensing a rate of acceleration change for a predetermined period of timefor releasing the releasable means to permit the spring lever means tomove from stored energy position and into engagement with the fragmentormeans to move the fragmentor means into engagement with the stressedlayer of the glass member.
 3. The combination comprising, a support, avessel member containing pressure fluid and having a penetratable seal,a penetrating member for penetrating the seal to release the pressurefluid, means fixedly mounting one of the members on the support, meansmovably mounting the other member on the support, means biasing themovable member relative to the fixed member in a direction moving thepenetrating member and vessel member seal into penetrating engagementwith each other, a generally hollow cylindrical frangible glass membertelescoped on the movable member and seated between the movable memberand the support to hold the movable member and the fixed member againstmovement relative to each other, the glass member having a compressivelystressed outer layer, a fragmentor pin movably mounted on the supportfor engaging the compressively stressed layer of the glass member tofragmentize the glass member and permit the biasing means to move thepenetrating member and vessel member seal into penetrating engagementand release the pressure fluid, stored energy means engageable with thefragmentor pin to move the fragmentor pin into engagement with the glassmember, releasable means blocking engagement of the stored energy meanswith the fragmentor pin, and means for sensing a rate of accelerationchange for a predetermined period of time for releasing the blockingmeans to permit the stored energy means to engage the fragmentor pin. 4.The combination comprising, a support, an annular vessel membercontaining pressure fluid and having a penetratable seal, an annularpenetrating member for penetrating the seal to release the pressurefluid, means fixedly mounting one of the members on the support, meansmovably mounting the other member on the support, means biasing themovable member relative to the fixed member in a direction moving thepenetrating member and vessel member seal into penetrating engagementwith each other, an annular seat on the movable member surrounding anannular portion thereof, a generally hollow annular frangible glassmember telescoped over the annular portion of the movable member andseated between the annular seat and the support to hold the movablemember and the fixed member against movement relative to each other, theglass member having an annular compressively stressed layer, afragmentor pin movably mounted on the support for engaging thecompressively stressed layer of the glass member to fragmentize theglass member and permit the biasing means to move the penetrating memberand vessel member seal into penetrating engagement and release thepressure fluid, stored energy means engageable with the fragmentor pinto move the fragmentor pin into engagement with the glass member,releasable means blocking engagement of the stored energy means with thefragmentor pin, and means for sensing a rate of acceleration change fora predetermined period of time for releasing the blocking means topermit the stored energy means to engage the fragmentor pin.
 5. Thecombination comprising, a support, a vessel member containing pressurefluid and having a penetratable seal, a penetrating member forpenetrating the seal to release the pressure fluid, means fixedlymounting one of the members on the support, means movably mounting theother member on the support, means biasing the movable member relativeto the fixed member in a direction moving the penetrating member andvessel member seal into penetrating engagement with each other, agenerally hollow annular frangible glass member seated between thesupport and the movable member to hold the movable member againstmovement, the glass member having an annular compressively stressedlayer, fragmentor means movably mounted on the support for engaging thecompressively stressed layer of the glass member to fragmentize theglass member and permit the biasing means to move the penetrating memberand vessel member seal into penetrating engagement and release thepressure fluid, stored energy means engageable with the fragmentor meansto move the fragmentor means into engagement with the stressed layer ofthe glass member, a generally frustoconically shaped pedestal on thesupport having a ball seat formed thereon, a ball of predeterminedweight seated on said seat, means holding the ball against the seat witha predetermined force sufficient to require a rate of accelerationchange for a predetermined period of time to unseat the ball from thepedestal, and means controlled by unseating of the ball for releasingthe stored energy means to engage the fragmentor means.
 6. Thecombination comprising, a support, a vessel member containing pressurefluid and having a penetratable seal, a penetrating member forpenetrating the seal to release the pressure fluid, means fixedlymounting one of the members on the support, means movably mounting theother member on the support, means biasing the movable member relativeto the fixed member in a direction moving the penetrating member andvessel member seal into penetrating engagement with each other, agenerally hollow annular frangible glass member seated between thesupport and the movable member to hold the movable member againstmovement, the glass member having an annular compressively stressedlayer, fragmentor means movably mounted on the support for engaging thecompressively stressed layer of the glass member to fragmentize theglass member and permit the biasing means to move the penetrating memberand vessel member seal into penetrating engagement and release thepressure fluid, stored energy means engageable with the fragmentor meansto move the fragmentor means into engagement with the stressed layer ofthe glass member, a generally frustoconically shaped pedestal on thesupport having a ball seat formed thereon, a ball of predeterminedweight seated on said seat, means holding the ball against the seat witha predetermined force sufficient to require a rate of accelerationchange for a predetermined period of time to unseat the ball from thepedestal, detent means movable between detented and undetented positionswith respect to the stored energy means, and means controlled byunseating of the ball for moving the detent means to undetented positionto permit the stored energy means to engage the fragmentor pin.
 7. Thecombination comprising, a support, a vessel member containing pressurefluid and having a penetratable seal, a penetrating member forpenetrating the seal to release the pressure fluid, means fixedlymounting one of the members on the support, means movably mounting theother member on the support, means biasing the movable member relativeto the fixed member in a direction moving the penetrating member andvessel member seal into penetrating engagement with each other, agenerally hollow annular frangible glass member seated between thesupport and the movable member to hold the movable member againstmovement, the glass member having an annular compressively stressedlayer, fragmentor means movably mounted on the support for engaging thecompressively stressed layer of the glass member to fragmentize theglass member and permit the biasing means to move the penetrating memberand vessel member seal into penetrating engagement and release thepressure fluid, stored energy means engageable with the fragmentor meansto move the fragmentor means into engagement with the stressed layer ofthe glass member, a generally frustoconically shaped pedestal on thesupport having a ball seat formed thereon, a ball of predeterminedweight seated on said seat, means holding the ball against the seat witha predetermined force sufficient to require a rate of accelerationchange for a predetermined period of time to unseat the ball from thepedestal, detent means movable between detented and undetented positionswith respect to the stored energy means, means biasing the detent meansto undetented position, and means controlled by unseating of the ballfor permitting the biasing means to move the detent means to undetentedposition to permit the stored energy means to engage the fragmentor pin.8. The combination comprising, a support, a vessel member containingpressure fluid and having a penetratable seal, a penetrating member forpenetrating the seal to release the pressure fluid, means fixedlymounting one of the members on the support, means movably mounting theother member on the support, means biasing the movable member relativeto the fixed member in a direction moving the penetrating member andvessel member seal into penetrating engagement with each other, agenerally hollow annular frangible glass member seated between thesupport and the movable member to hold the movable member againstmovement, the glass member having an annular compressively stressedlayer, fragmentor means movably mounted on the support for engaging thecompressively stressed layer of the glass member to fragmentize theglass member and permit the biasIng means to move the penetrating memberand vessel member seal into penetrating engagement and release thepressure fluid, stored energy means engageable with the fragmentor meansto move the fragmentor means into engagement with the stressed layer ofthe glass member, a generally frustoconically shaped pedestal on thesupport having a ball seat formed thereon, a ball of predeterminedweight seated on said seat, means holding the ball against the seat witha predetermined force sufficient to require a rate of accelerationchange for a predetermined period of time to unseat the ball from thepedestal, detent means movable between detented and undetented positionswith respect to the stored energy means, means on the detent meansengageable with the stored energy means and with the ball when the ballis seated to maintain the stored energy means out of engagement with thefragmentor pin, unseating of the ball permitting the detent means torelease the stored energy means and permit the stored energy means toengage the fragmentor pin.
 9. The combination comprising, a support, avessel member containing pressure fluid and having a penetratable seal,a penetrating member for penetrating the seal to release the pressurefluid, means fixedly mounting one of the members on the support, meansmovably mounting the other member on the support, means biasing themovable member relative to the fixed member in a direction moving thepenetrating member and vessel member seal into penetrating engagementwith each other, a generally hollow annular frangible glass memberseated between the support and the movable member to hold the movablemember and the fixed member against movement relative to each other, theglass member having an annular compressively stressed layer, afragmentor pin movably mounted on the support for engaging thecompressively stressed layer of the glass member to fragmentize theglass member and permit the biasing means to move the penetrating memberand vessel member seal into penetrating engagement and release thepressure fluid, a spring member mounted on the support and including afirst arm engageable with the fragmentor pin and a second arm engageablewith the first arm to hold the first arm against movement, a generallyfrustoconically shaped pedestal on the support having a ball seat formedthereon, a ball of predetermined weight seated on said seat, meansholding the ball against the seat with a predetermined force sufficientto require a rate of acceleration change for a predetermined period oftime to unseat the ball from the pedestal, means on the second armengageable with the ball when the ball is seated to maintain the secondarm in engagement with the first arm, unseating of the ball permittingthe second arm to move out of engagement with the first arm to permitthe first arm to engage the fragmentor pin.